Traffic signal lens mounting construction



Nov. 23, 1965 w. E. LENZ TRAFFIC SIGNAL LENS MOUNTING CONSTRUCTION 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 15, 1961 mm WNSH ATTO Nov. 23, 1965 w. E. LENZ3,219,973

TRAFFIC SIGNAL LENS MOUNTING CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 13, 1961 2Sheets-Sheet 2 WENTOR WILLIAM E. LE NZ BY WW m ATTO R N Y5 Ueiredhset se @155 3,219,973 Patented Nov. 23, 1965 3,219,973 TRAFFIC SIGNAL LENSMOUNTING CONSTRUCTION William E. Lenz, Haverstraw, N.Y., assignor to TheMarbelite Company, Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York FiledJan. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 82,492 1 Claim. (Cl. 34084) This inventionpertains to a traflic signal and particularly to a lens clip which maybe employed to hold a lens in a situably apertured traflic signal lightbase.

In the traflic signal art, emphasis is made upon simple and convenientassembly of the equipment since normally the service man must work at anawkward position on a ladder or other form of elevated platform. Priorart lens mounting devices incorporating flat washers and screwassemblies are rather difficult to remove and install at such awkwardpositions because the asserrrblying or dismantling generally requiresthe use of both hands. To the contrary, the mounting clips of thepresent invention permit easy and convenient lens assemblying ordismantling which can readily be performed with one hand.

It is an object of this invention to provide a plurality of clip devicesfor releasably securing the lens of a trafiic signal assembly to thehinged door or cover thereof in a convenient manner whereby the securingclips may be readily pivoted and released, without the need of using anytools, enabling a service man to conveniently remove the lens forcleaning or replacement.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages 'hereof willbecome apparent from the following description and drawings which aremerely exemplary.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partial side elevational view of a traffic signal assemblywith parts broken away in cross section showing the lens clip mountingthe lens on the cover;

FIG. 2 is a partial rear elevational view of the cover in open positionwith the lens secured thereto;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the elements of thelens clip viewed in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3 in thedirection of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of an alternativelens mounting clip assembly; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the clip assembly shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 1 the traflic signal assembly shown generally as 11has the usual casing or housing 12. Preferably the front door or cover13 is hinged to a projecting pivot (not shown) on the casing has acircumferential well 14 adjacent circular opening 15 in which a lens 16may be mounted. The lens shown has a circumferential flat rim 17 whichis adapted to receive an inwardly opening annular recess 18 in theannular washer or gasket 19 which may be of an S-shaped cross-section.The gasket is of an appropriately predetermined size so as to readilyfit in the well 14. The lens and Washer are clamped or mounted inposition on the door by mounting clips, one of which is generallydenoted in FIG. 1 at 20.

The mounting clip comprises a clip member 21 (FIGS. 1, 3) which isformed with two substantially parallel offset portions 22, 23 connectedsubstantially perpendicularly by an intermediate portion 24. Theconnection between portions 23, 24 includes a rounded protrusion or bend25 (FIG. 3) which is adapted to be positioned as a fulcrum in abuttingrelationship with a front wall or door 13 of the assembly. The portion23 is formed with a bore 26 for receiving a headed bolt 27 which isthreadedly attached to the door 13. Positioned on the bolt between thebolt head and portion 23 of the clip member is a spring 28 for biasingportion 23 away from the bolt head and toward the door or cover 13. Thespring preferably surrounds a flanged sleeve 28A of relatively shorterlength and which may be forced into abutting relation with clip portion23 by bolt 27. The inwardly extending end of portion 23 is coined orotherwise formed so as to present a rounded edge 29 (FIG. 4). The edge29 is readily insertable in an outwardly directed annular recess 18 ofthe washer or gasket 19. Thus, each clip member may be grasped by therelatively long handle or portion 22 and selectively pivoted about itsbolt into and out of securing engagement with the lens and its gasket.The spring biased portion 23 in its lens securing position is urged intoclamping engagement with the lens and its gasket.

In FIG. 2, the mounting clip 20 is shown in its correct lens securingposition, but when in a partial securing position (dotted lines), thelong handle is such that it will prevent the cover from being closed.

Thus it is believed to be readily understood that a service man, who maybe in an awkward position on a ladder or the like, may with one handpivot the mounting clips as desired into or out of securing engagementwith the traflic signal lens, and by use of the foregoing structure, atraflic signal lens may be assembled or dismantled with increasedfacility.

As an alternative, the mounting clip assembly (shown in FIGS. 5 and 6)may be employed. In this form, a retaining or locking means 28 such as aTruarc retaining ring, is positioned on the reduced non-threaded portionof bolt 27 between the clip member offset portion 23 and the threadedportion of the bolt. The locking means 28' serves to hold the spring 28in place on the bolt 27 between the enlarged bolt head and clip portion23. Thus the clip member 21 may be retained upon the bolt 27 such thatthe mounting clip assembly is easily adaptable for securement orremounting on any signal.

Referring to FIG. 1, a lamp 36 is shown in its normal position behindthe lens and screwed or otherwise se cured to the reflector assembly 37.Preferably a polarized disconnect plug 38 extends from the reflectorassembly by electrical cord 39 and is connected to the mating socket 40in lamp operating condition. The socket extends from terminal block 41,mounted within the signal housing, by electrical cord 42. Preferably,the reflector assembly 37 is detachably pivotably mounted within thehousing.

Thus, when it is desired to remove the reflector as sembly formaintenance or the like, the hinged door may be opened and the reflectorassembly rotated slightly to gain access to the disconnect plug.Whereupon the plug may be disconnected from the socket, thereby breaking the electrical connection, Which will permit the withdrawal of thereflector assembly upon detachment of its pivotal mounting in thehousing. Thus, it will be noted that the reflector assembly of thepresent invention is capable of being withdrawn without the use or needof screw drivers or other tools heretofore employed in disconnectinglead wires from a terminal block mounted in a signal housing.

It is understood that the described exemplary embodiment is intendedmerely for the purpose of illustration, and that the principles of theinvention are not intended to be limited thereto, except as defined inthe appended claim.

I claim:

In a trafiic signalling lamp structure having a signal lamp enclosure, adoor, a signal lamp and lens, an opening in said door to besubstantially closed by the mount ing of said lens in said opening,gasket means, and lens mounting clip means for securing said lens insaid opening, said clip means comprising a first and second portion,said portions being oifset substantially parallel, oppositely extendingand connected substantially perpendicularly by an intermediate portion,the second portion including a fulcrum bend adjacent the connection ofsaid intermediate portion and said second portion for engagement withsaid door, said second portion further including an aperature adjacentsaid bend, a bolt having an enlarged head at one end, a spring, saidbolt passing through said aperture and pivotally securing said clipmeans to said door with said spring interposed between said bolt headand said second portion of said clip means, said clip means beingpivotal about said bolt whereby 4 said second portion of said clip meansis movable into and out of engagement With said gasket to permitassembly and disassembly of said gasket and lens.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,441,326 1/1923Blocker 292-202 1,709,433 4/ 1929 Holfman 29257 2,508,662 5/1950 Carper292202 2,534,992 12/1950 Reid 340-84 2,591,888 4/1952 Steffen 340-842,852,758 9/1958 Beaubien 340-74 2,949,598 8/1960 Bush 340-84 NEIL C.READ, Primary Examiner.

BENNETT G. MILLER, Examiner.

